Heterocyclization reactions of pyruvic acids, aromatic aldehydes and 5-amino-N-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides yielding four different types of final compounds are described. The reactions involving arylidenpyruvic acids lead with high degree of selectivity to either 4,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids or 5-[(2-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)amino]-1H-pyrazoles, depending on the catalyst type or temperature regime. The interactions based on arylpyruvic acids can take place under kinetic or thermodynamic control producing 7-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-carboxylic acids or 3-hydroxy-1-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones, respectively.